LIST: Sexting, bath salts and more new laws in effect in Texas

Published 2:15 pm, Wednesday, August 31, 2011

A host of new laws passed by the 82nd Texas Legislature is set to take effect today. The new laws will affect Texan's lives in various different ways from traffic laws to weapons to criminal offenses.

Criminal laws

HB 2118, SB 331

-- Certain synthetic compounds deceptively labeled as "bath salts" and synthetic marijuana products have been added to Penalty Group 2 of the Texas Controlled Substances Act. Both have been sold in convenience stores and head shops, and have side effects that can be harmful and long-lasting.

SB 40

7 -- The electronic transmission or possession of visual material depicting a minor engaging in sexual conduct ("sexting") has been added as an offense in the Penal Code. The penalty can range from a Class C misdemeanor to Class A misdemeanor, depending on the circumstances. This does not apply to minors involved in a dating relationship or spouses.

Traffic laws

HB 1353

-- Speed limits will now be the same during night and day driving, and separate speed limits for trucks have been eliminated. The maximum speed limit on state highways may be raised to 75 miles per hour if approved after a finding by the Texas Department of Transportation showed the increased speed would be reasonable and safe following an engineering and traffic investigation.

HB 378

-- Tow trucks have been added to the slow-down or move-over laws, which require drivers to slow down 20 miles per hour below the speed limit, or to vacate the lane closest to the stopped emergency vehicle that has emergency lights activated if the road has multiple lanes traveling in the same direction.

Drivers license

SB 14

-- Voters will be required to present a drivers license, personal identification certificate, military identification, election identification certificate, United States citizenship certificate passport or concealed handgun license to participate in an election. The Texas Department of Public Safety must create an election identification certificate to be issued for registered voters who do not have any of the other acceptable forms of photo identification. The election identification certificate will be distinguishable from a driver license or personal identification certificate, and will be issued free of charge to persons only if they do not hold any other acceptable form of identification, as listed in Election Code 63.0101.

HB 90

-- Hardship drivers licenses will be suspended if the holder is convicted of two or more moving violations during a 12-month period. DPS may no longer waive the driver education requirement to issue a 60-day hardship license.

HB 1148

-- Veterans will be exempt from the fee for a personal identification certificate if they can show honorable discharge and at least 60 percent service-related disability. Disabled veterans are exempted from driver license fees under current law.

HB 1514

-- A veteran designation will be displayed on a driver license for applicants who provide proof of military service and honorable discharge.

SB 1330

-- A four-hour driving safety course was approved for drivers under 25 years old. Drivers under 25 who are cited for a moving violation may be required to take this course.

Weapons

SB 321

-- Employers may not prohibit employees with a concealed handgun license from having firearms or ammunition in their personal cars in the employer's parking lot. This does not apply to employees of public, private or charter schools or employees of chemical manufacturers or oil and gas refiners.

Crime labs

SB 1616

-- Crime laboratories are required to preserve biological evidence used in the investigation or prosecution of a felony for at least 40 years, or until the applicable statute of limitations has expired if there is an un-apprehended actor associated with the offense.

SB 1636

-- Law enforcement agencies are required to submit DNA evidence in active sexual assault cases to an accredited laboratory within 30 days of receipt. Once the evidence has been analyzed, the DNA must be compared by DPS to state and federal DNA databases. The bill requires law enforcement agencies to submit unanalyzed DNA evidence collected after Sept. 1, 1996, to DPS for analysis.

Missing persons

HB 1075

-- A new category of missing person alerts may be issued for missing persons with intellectual disabilities. Activation of this alert includes a requirement of documentation of a qualifying intellectual disability.